Komyo-ji Temple(Nagaokakyo City, Kyoto Prefecture)

　It is the head temple of the Seizan-Jodo sect and a branch of the Jodo sect.

　Seizan Shonin is a disciple of Honen Shonin who the founder of the Jodo sect, when he spread his sect for Seizan-Jodo sect at this temple.

　Since then, the temple has become the head temple of Seizan-Jodo sect.

　A distinctive feature of the Seizan-Jodo sect, which teaches that pray a Buddhist chant of "Namu Amida Buddha," that is the only way to attain birth.

　It differs from other Jodo sects in that it requires good deeds other than a Buddhist chant.

　This was first chanted in 1230 by Honen Shonin's disciple Shokobou Bencho commonly known as Chinzei Shonin and it is called the "Chinzei-Jodo sect."

Mikagedo of Komyo-Ji Temple

　This temple is also connected to Rensho Shonin, who is a disciple of Honen Shonin.

　The origin of Komyo-ji Temple is the "Nenbutsu Zanmaido" built by Rensho Shonin in 1198(9th year of Kenkyu) in the early Kamakura period.

　Before he becoming a monk, Renso Shonin was a samurai who called Kumagai Naozane.

　There is a famous passage in "The Tale of the Heike" which the enemy samurai Taira no Atsumori was tearfully defeated at the Battle of Ichinotani.

　After the Genpei War, he became dissatisfied with the way he was treated by the Kamakura Shogunate, so he studied under Honen Shonin and became a monk.

　Maple trees are planted throughout the vase temple grounds, and the temple is known as a famous spot for viewing autumn leaves.

Komyo-ji Temple Maple Approach

　Maple is written in kanji as "楓".

　Although it is written as "紅葉" and is also called "Momiji," there is actually no plant called Momiji.

　All plants with five branched leaves belong to the Sapindaceous (Also called the Aceraceae family) genus Acre, that is the maple as Kaede.

　By the way, the Kaede comes from the word "Kaeru no Te(Frog's hand)."

　During the Manyo era, the leaves of maples and other plants, which turned red as autumn depended were referred to as "Momichi" or "Momiji."

　The red leaves of the maple are exceptionally beautiful and the names "Momichi" and "Momiji" were used specifically to the maple, so the name Momiji became popular as another name for the maple.

　However, in reality it may also be used to name some plants of the genus maple, such as "Yamamomiji(Mount maple)." The leaves of the maple genus, which are divided into five parts and have deep notches are named "〇〇momiji."